Agatha Christie Lovers discussion

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General > Help Please...Christie multiple scenes within a chapter?

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message 1: by Ann (new)

Ann L. Hi Everyone...requesting help from an aspiring English mysteries author!

I am an avid Agatha Christie and overall English mysteries fan. I started writing my own series and found my natural style to be a combination of Agatha Christie and Robert Barnard. As much as I try to fit in one or the other I still keep coming up with more of a combination. Anyway, that is background.

The first in my series I am approximately 9 chapters into writing, and some of the tips of how to introduce characters coming together/travelling from multiple places I am using Christie's Appointment With Death as an example. (I have my characters coming together in Greece by the way).

I ran across a stumbling block in that the natural flow of what I am writing requires a chapter filled with multiple scenes. The type showing different scenes/characters/places happening simultaneously and typically separated by ******* between each scene.

I know I have read extremely good examples where Christie has done this...so:

I was wondering if anyone has any tips in which books these were found of hers (or others)?

Thank you so much for any leads!

Ann


message 2: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brody series comes to mind as beautiful handling of things happening to different characters at the same time. Generally not within the same chapter though.


message 3: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brody series comes to mind as beautiful handling of things happening to different characters at the same time. Generally not within the same chapter though.


message 4: by Ann (new)

Ann L. Thank you Lisa,
I just went on Amazon and bought the 2nd in the series to check out!


message 5: by Randee (new)

Randee Baty Doesn't And Then There Were None begin that way?


message 6: by Ann (new)

Ann L. Randee,
Thank you. I have a vague memory of that...very vague. I will go out to the bookstore today and purchase a copy...I think it is one of only three I don't already own.

Thanks again!

Ann


message 7: by Ann (new)

Ann L. Randee wrote: "Doesn't And Then There Were None begin that way?"

Randy: I just went and checked out the Kindle online version since you mentioned it was at the beginning. SCORE!!! It is right there.

Thank you thank you...this will enable me to get over a stumbling block I have with my next part of writing.

Ann


message 8: by Ann (new)

Ann L. Randee wrote: "Doesn't And Then There Were None begin that way?"

Thanks again Randee...a week later I am 1/3 of the way through this chapter with approximately 6 mini-scenes...having Agatha Christie example has helped. It is a tough chapter to write actually. It is a great help when we can harness all the minds out there. Thank you thank you. Ann


message 9: by Randee (new)

Randee Baty Glad I was able to help. That was one of the first Agatha Christies I read so I never forget that scene.


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